Surviving a Winter Storm Without Power

One of the toughest and most difficult experiences you can face is a power outage during a winter storm. We often don’t realize just how much we depend on electricity until it is suddenly cut out of our lives. However, if you are prepared and have the right emergency supplies at hand, you will be able to stay in your home relatively comfortably, and you might even make a good time out of it.

Preparing for a Winter Power Interruption

The best protection against having no power during a blizzard or ice storm is to be prepared. This means you must have all of the essentials for survival, including the following:

• Food and water: If you think you may be trapped in your home or unable to drive, you should have at least a five-day supply of water and food. Plan to have at least one gallon of water per person per day, and the food should require only minimal preparation.


• Light: Darkness can totally incapacitate you, so it is essential to have at least three reliable light sources. This includes battery-operated lanterns, headlamps and flashlights.


• AM/FM/weather radio: In inclement weather, a battery-powered or crank-powered emergency radio will keep you up-to-date with the latest weather and safety reports, and it can help keep boredom at bay.


• Two-way radio: If the phones are down and cell phones are not working, a two-way CB radio may provide the best chance of contact with the outside world in emergency situations.

What to Do When the Power Goes Out

Even if you have made all the proper preparations for a winter power outage, you still have to take several steps to ensure the safety and comfort of you and your family:

• Operate your generator safely. A generator can provide all the electricity you need as long it is operated sparingly and safely. Always keep gas- or propane-operated generators outside or in a well-ventilated area. Other options include Goal Zero generators, which can be used safely and silently indoors.


• Protect your plumbing. Let each faucet run slightly to help prevent freezing.


• Keep perishable food cold. If possible, put food that may spoil into a separate cooler with plenty of ice. However, you can also place your food outside in a sturdy container out of the sun. SOS Survival Products also offers a wide range of freeze-dried foods and food bars for emergencies, with 5- to 25-year shelf life.


• Use your fireplace. If you have a fireplace or wood-burning stove, start a fire to keep warm.

Power outages during winter storms are not only inconvenient and uncomfortable but also dangerous and life threatening. However, if you have the right emergency equipment and supplies and are prepared for this situation, you will experience few problems until electricity can be restored.

The Best Foods to Stockpile for an Emergency

It’s always best to be prepared in case of the worst. A variety of emergency scenarios – natural disasters, viral outbreaks, or large-scale accidents – can lead to unstable fallout. Should you be forced to deal with the worst case outcome in a situation like this – with no access to groceries, drinks or any other kind of supplies – you need to prepare the food stocks you need in advance. Picture a tornado or storm disrupting city infrastructure and your life for several weeks – how well could you deal with a devastating disaster right now?

Being prepared for an emergency requires smart planning and action well ahead of time. If you were trapped in your location for several days, would you have adequate food supplies ready to go? Would that food be healthy and appropriately energizing to keep you awake and alert? Most emergency situations lead to an increase in energy consumed by the body, as opposed to the typical sedentary lifestyle people experience daily. As a result, you’ll need high-quality, high protein foods to keep you going.

Below are high-quality food options that you can count on in case of emergency.

Emergency Food Bars / SOS Food Bars

While canned goods are always popular emergency rations, nothing beats energy bars in terms of calories and shelf life. These are light to carry and able to satisfy people for both short and long term conditions. SOS Survival Products has a variety of fruit-flavored energy bars, designed for both quick meals and several days of sustenance. All of our emergency food bars have a five-year shelf life, exceeding the longevity of most canned foods.

Mountain House Products

Mountain House carries high-quality freeze-dried food pouches that are easy to prepare and last a long time. Delicious and quick to turn into a meal, these make excellent additions to food stocks. Each freeze-dried food pouch is lightweight and comes with a 7 year shelf life. All you need to do is add water to prepare and you’re set!

And don’t forget about Mountain House’s #10 Cans, which come with an impressive 25 year shelf life and a higher quantity of food. After cans have been opened, remaining food can last for up to two weeks. All cans contain food made with quality ingredients for simple and fast preparation.

Freeze Dried Pouches

In addition to Mountain House Products, SOS Survival Products also carries other freeze dried pouch foods. With impressive shelf life spans and convenient jumbo quantities of food, these pouches make excellent additions to your emergency storage. Preparation doesn’t involve much else than adding some hot or cold water, and the resulting amounts should provide more than enough food for the family.

All in all, it’s important to plan ahead and ensure your family’s safety with a comprehensive plan for gathering emergency food supplies. You never know what situations, or disruptions from everyday life, you might be thrust into. SOS Survival Products have a variety of quick-preparation, long-lasting food supplies to store away in case of the worst-case scenario.